The frustration and annoyance of seeing extra pounds on the scale, or of the sudden tightness of a favorite pair of pants, is understandable.
But did you know that anything from a hormonal imbalance to vitamin deficiencies to your medication can help control how much you weigh?
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“A lot of people make what we think are lifestyle choices but are actually our bodies reacting to factors we can’t control,” says Robert J. Hedaya, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center. “Whether it’s hormonal, a medication side effect, or something else, too often we put the onus on the individual, and there are factors that sometimes justify a doctor’s help.” Here are seven health issues that could be standing between you and your ideal weight–and how to fix them.
Anti-Depressants
Many anti-depressant medications cause weight gain–so if you’re depressed and taking pills for it, expect to see a bump in weight between 5 and 15 pounds, with continued gradual accumulation over the years, says Dr. Hedaya, who is also the founder of the National Center for Whole Psychiatry in Chevy Chase, MD. If you’re not taking pills, there’s evidence that feelings of depression can correlate to weight gain. One 2010 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that people who feel sad and lonely gain weight more quickly than those who report fewer depression-related symptoms. “They may be eating more high-fat, high-calorie comfort foods,” says Belinda Needham, PhD, assistant professor in the department of sociology at UAB and the lead author of the study.
Solution: “If I see patients who are taking anti-depressants and that could be the culprit of their weight gain, I may wean them slowly off of the drug,” says Dominique Fradin-Read, MD, MPH, assistant clinical professor at the Loma Linda School of Medicine in California. “I may then put them on Wellbutrin instead, which actually helps with weight loss.” If your meds are not to blame, seek out some workout buddies or a support group. “Attending meetings, like Weight Watchers, or working out with a group of friends is a great way to increase social support,” Dr. Needham says, “which can help depression.”
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Prescription Medications
There’s a long list of medications that can cause weight gain:
- Birth control pills
- Hormones for hormone therapy
- Steroids
- Beta-blockers
- Anti-seizure medication
- Tamoxifen
- Some treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
- Treatments for migraines
- Heartburn medications
“When I see patients who are concerned about weight gain, I start looking at their medications,” says Steven D. Wittlin, MD. clinical director of the endocrine-metabolism division at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY. “That’s a biggie. Some may affect appetite; some may affect metabolism.” Others may simply make you feel better and thus regain your lost appetite.
Solution: If you suspect your medication is affecting your waistline, your doctor may be able to find an alternative treatment that won’t have that particular side effect.
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5 Weight Gain Causes You Can’t Control was originally published on blackdoctor.org
